Song of Solomon? Really?

I give warning and advice to everyone who is not yet free of the vexations of flesh and blood and who has not withdrawn from the desire for corporeal nature that he completely abstain from reading this book and what is said about it. Indeed, they say that the Hebrews observe the rule that unless some one has attained a perfect and mature age, he is not even permitted to hold this book in his hands. ~ Origin ( )

The books of scripture-history and prophecy are very much like one another, but this Song of Solomon’s is very much unlike the songs of his father David; here is not the name of God in it; it is never quoted in the New Testament; we find not in it any expressions of natural religion or pious devotion, no, nor is it introduced by vision, or any of the marks of immediate revelation. It seems as hard as any part of scripture to be made a savour of life unto life, nay, and to those who come to the reading of it with carnal minds and corrupt affections, it is in danger of being made a savour of death unto death; it is a flower out of which they extract poison; and therefore the Jewish doctors advised their young people not to read it till they were thirty years old, lest by the abuse of that which is most pure and sacred - the flames of lust should be kindled with fire from heaven, which is intended for the altar only. ~ Puritan Commentator Matthew Henry

No man in Israel has ever contested that the Song of Solomon defiles the hands. For in the entire world there is nothing to equal the day on which the Song of Solomon was give to Israel. All the Writings are holy, but the Song of Songs is most holy… ~ Rabbi Aqiba (90 AD)

“Song of Solomon… ooooooooooooh baby!” ~ Rachel Larson, Old Testament Scholar and Hope Office Coordinator

Why a sermon series on Song of Solomon?

Dr. Jason Carroll and his colleagues published a widely cited paper in the Journal of Adolescent Research revealing that 87 percent of college males and 31 percent of college females view pornography.

Porn is a 60 billion dollar a year industry. That equals$3000 a second.

Dr. Jason Carroll and his colleagues published a widely cited paper in the Journal of Adolescent Research revealing that 87 percent of college males and 31 percent of college females view pornography. Porn is a 60 billion dollar a year industry. That equals$3000 a second. More money is spent on porn than on pro baseball, basketball, football combined. More money is spent on porn than country music, rock music, jazz music, classical music, Broadway plays, and ballet combined.

In the last 10 years, Americans have spent more money each year on pornography than on foreign aid.

11,000 new porn films are made every year. That means that a new porn film is made in the US every hour.

In the last 10 years, Americans have spent more money each year on pornography than on foreign aid. 11,000 new porn films are made every year. That means that a new porn film is made in the US every hour. The average child sees porn for the first time at age 11.

In the last 10 years, Americans have spent more money each year on pornography than on foreign aid. 11,000 new porn films are made every year. That means that a new porn film is made in the US every hour. The average child sees porn for the first time at age 11. Porn accounts for 25% of the search requests on Google. The National Council on Sexual Addiction Compulsivity estimated that 6%-8% of Americans are sex addicts, which is 16 million-21.5 million people.

Today there are more than 2,400 clubs, according to a popular strip-club webzine. Annual revenues at some clubs are as high as $8 million, and they employ as many as 200 dancers.

According to Enrichment Journal on the divorce rates in America, the divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%; the divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%; the divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%.

Today there are more than 2,400 clubs, according to a popular strip-club webzine. Annual revenues at some clubs are as high as $8 million, and they employ as many as 200 dancers. According to Enrichment Journal on the divorce rates in America, the divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%; the divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%; the divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%. In the top 4 of most everyone’s list of the causes of divorce is infidelity and/or lack of sexual intimacy. (Stats compiled from various sources including Forbes.com, Salvo Magazine, Enrichment Journal, Mars Hill Church, DailyDomainer.com, Blazing Grace online pornography statistics [ and personal research)

How racey is this going to be?

“The description of physical beauty [in the Song of Solomon] is frank without crassness.” ~ Robert Gordis

“The description of physical beauty [in the Song of Solomon] is frank without crassness.” ~ Robert Gordis

Historical Interpretative Approaches to the Song of Solomon

The Allegorical Approach

Allegorical Approach Ezekiel 16:1-8 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices 3 and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5 No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.

Allegorical Approach Ezekiel 16:1-8 6 “ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!” 7 I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. 8 “ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.

The Typological Approach

Ephesians 5: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

The Typological Approach Revelation 19:6-9 6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

The Literal Approach

Our approach: Literal and Progressive

Luke 24: He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24: He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

“The progressive character of divine revelation is recognized in relation to all the great doctrines of the Bible... What at first is only obscurely intimated is gradually unfolded in subsequent parts of the sacred volume, until the truth is revealed in its fulness.” ~ Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, vol. 1, page 446.

Song of Solomon 1:1 Solomon’s Song of Songs.

Song of Solomon 1:1 Solomon’s Song of Songs. Literally: “THE song of songs, which is Solomon’s”

Song of Solomon 1:1 Solomon’s Song of Songs. Literally: “THE song of songs, which is Solomon’s”

Who is this Solomon guy?

POUSSIN, Nicolas The Judgment of Solomon 1649 Oil on canvas, 101 x 150 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris

KNÜPFER, Nicolaus, Queen of Sheba before Solomon 1640s Oil on canvas, 74 x 81 cm The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Who is this Solomon guy? 1 Kings 4: God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite— wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

Who is this Solomon guy? 1 Kings 11: As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the L ORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the L ORD ; he did not follow the L ORD completely, as David his father had done. 7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

Who is this Solomon guy? 1 Kings 11: The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.

Song of Solomon 1:1 Solomon’s Song of Songs. Literally: “THE song of songs, which is Solomon’s”

What’s going on in this song?

Song of Solomon is a love story involving the attraction, dating, purity, passion, wedding, wedding night, marriage relationship and sexual passion between King Solomon and “the Shulammite”.

What’s going on in this song? Song of Solomon is a love story involving the attraction, dating, purity, passion, wedding, wedding night, marriage relationship and sexual passion between King Solomon and “the Shulammite”. The story line of the song follows pretty much chronological through their attraction, dating, wedding, and sexual union.

What type of literature is this?

Song (Poetry)

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire; Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.

The Repetitive Chorus & Controlling Theme of Song of Solomon

The Repetitive Chorus & Controlling Theme of Song of Solomon Song of Solomon 2:7 7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Song of Solomon 3:5 5 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Song of Solomon 8:4 4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

What type of literature is this? Wisdom Literature: Job Proverbs Ecclesiastes Psalms Song of Solomon

Wisdom Literature: Proverbs 1:1-7 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Doing what is right/just/fair Disciplined & Prudent Life Wisdom Fear of the Lord